Review: Learn About Flight In A Fun Family Friendly Exhibition

Tabish KhanReview: Learn About Flight In A Fun Family Friendly ExhibitionAbove and Beyond, National Maritime Museum5

Some of the aircraft models on view in this interactive exhibition. Image courtesy Royal Museums Greenwich

The power of flight has advanced so much since the time of pioneers such as the Montgolfier and Wright brothers. Yet it still feels somewhat magical and fascinates adults and children alike.

This exhibition taps into that sense of wonder to teach us all about flying. There are facts and scale models scattered throughout the show, all in easily digestible chunks — this is a family oriented exhibition after all.

But it's the interactive side to this show that makes it so entertaining, so much so that children may even soak in information and not realise they're learning as they're having so much fun.

A simulator takes us on a ride up a space elevator and we get to fly in formation as a bird using our arms as wings. Top billing goes to a flight simulator where visitors have to design a plane, where they learn about the trade-offs between manoeuvrability and speed.

The ultimate goal is to fly the plane itself and try to get the top time. We were pretty chuffed to have posted the top time — that will teach those kids (and their parents).

If the goal of exhibitions like these is to inspire children into a future in engineering, then this is a winner.

Above and Beyond is on National Maritime Museum, Greenwich until 29 August. Tickets are £9 for adults, £6 for children. For another family friendly exhibition see the Mechanics of Genius at Science Museum.